Anti-social Behaviour

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in each year since their introduction; and
	How many individual support orders have been issued in each year since their introduction.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, were made available to the courts in England, Wales and Scotland from 1 April 1999. The available information is given in Tables A and B. Individual support orders (ISOs) are available in magistrates' courts in England and Wales only. ISOs commenced from 1 May 2004 and may be given to juveniles (aged 10 to 17 years) in addition to an ASBO. The number of ISOs issued, as reported to the Home Office, in 2004 is seven. In 2005, up to 30 June (latest available), 19 have been issued. The Anti-Social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 introduced ASBOs to Northern Ireland in August 2004. The Northern Ireland Office advises that in 2004 no ASBOs were reported as being issued. Three ASBOs were issued in 2005.
	
		Table A: The number of anti-social behaviour orders issued, as notified to the Home Office, by period, from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2005 (latest available). England and Wales
		
			 Period Number issued 
			 1 Apr 1999 to 31 May 20001 104 
			 1 Jun to 31 Dec 2000 135 
			 2001 323 
			 2002 404 
			 2003 1,043 
			 2004 2,660 
			 1 Jan to 30 Jun 2005 1,828 
			 Total 6,497 
		
	
	1 During this period data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area.
	
		Table B: The number of anti-social behaviour orders issued, as notified to the Scottish Executive, by period, from 1 December 1999 to 31 March 2005. Scotland.
		
			 Period Number issued 
			 1 Dec 1999 to 30 Nov 2000 26 
			 1 Dec 2000 to 30 Nov 2001 57 
			 1 Dec 2001 to 30 Nov 2002 68 
			 1 Apr 2002 to 31 Mar 20031 75 
			 1 Apr 2003 to 31 Mar 20042 128 
			 1 Apr 2004 to 31 Mar 2005 205 
			 Total 559 
		
	
	1 Figures 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are derived from the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (CIHS) surveys which collected data across calendar years. Data from 2003–04 onwards were collected via a research project on ASBOs which collected data for financial years. In order to construct a historical series, the CIHS data were reallocated into the financial years on the assumption that ASBO activity was constant within the calendar years concerned.
	2 The power to apply for ASBOs was extended to registered social landlords (RSLs) on 27 June 2003, so data for 2003–04 are the first set to include RSL returns.
	Note: Data presented in this table are currently being quality assured by those local authorities on whose figures the annual totals are based.

BBC: Licence Fee

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the European Union ruling as outlined in paragraph 10.5.4 of the BBC White Paper that the licence fee is state aid; and whether they intend to treat it as such.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government accept that the grant they pay to the BBC out of revenue from the television licence fee is a state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the Treaty of Rome. As is the case with all their obligations to the European Union, the Government are committed to ensuring compliance with the state aid rules. The White Paper makes it clear that the Government expect the BBC to continue to be rigorous in ensuring its use of the licence fee complies with state aid rules.

Blasphemy

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the call by the Foreign Minister of Turkey for the European Union to alter blasphemy laws to protect Islam as well as Christianity; and whether European action in this area would be consistent with the principle of subsidiarity.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Any change relating to the law of blasphemy would have to begin with a review in which various options could be considered. All UK faiths and interested parties, particularly the established Church, would need to be consulted and the issues examined in some depth. We have no plans to initiate such work, but would be content to listen to representations on the subject. We doubt that there is any competence under the European treaties for EU action in this area. Even if there were, we would require some persuasion that there was a legitimate need for EU action in this field.

Civil Service: Religious Societies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 20 January (WA 133) and 9 March (WA 155), whether an invitation to the reception hosted by Sir Gus O'Donnell on 18 January was extended to Sheikh Riyadh Ul-Haq by a member of the Civil Service Islamic Society.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Civil Service Islamic Society did not invite Sheikh Riyadh Ul-Haq to the reception.
	It was agreed, in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary's office, that it would not be appropriate to invite any external speakers to what was an internal Civil Service event.

Crossrail

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated final construction cost of Crossrail in today's prices.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to the parliamentary estimate of expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill.

NHS: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will take a decision on whether to continue to take out a bulk subscription to ensure that National Health Service professionals receive the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin from 1 April 2006.

Lord Warner: A decision will be made shortly on whether to renew the contract for central procurement of the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin for 2006–07.

Official Visits: Prime Minister

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which overseas countries the Prime Minister has visited each month since June 2001.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers' travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers. Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

Older People

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What have been the activities of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Older People.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees is generally not discussed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Older People (DA(OP)) and the Ministerial Committee on Aging Policy (MISC29) were superseded by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Aging Policy (DA(AP)), following the general election in May 2005. A full list of all Cabinet Committees, including their membership and terms of reference, can be found in the Library.

Prisoners: Deportation

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners who have been recommended for deportation by the courts have been deported in each of the past five years.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Over the past five years the following numbers of prisoners have been removed from the United Kingdom:
	2001: 450 (published information)
	2002: 415 (published information)
	2003: Figures not available
	2004: 1,608 (internal management information)
	2005: 1,442 (internal management information)
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not currently differentiate between those recommended by the courts and those to be deported on the grounds that their presence is not conducive to the public good. Published statistics on immigration and asylum issues are available on the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Royal Navy: Sonar

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What actions they have taken as a result of the post mortem conducted by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria into the death of four Cuvier's beaked whales which concluded that the most likely cause of death was anti-submarine active mid-frequency sonar used during Royal Navy exercises.

Lord Drayson: We have not taken any action.
	The Royal Navy did not operate any anti-submarine sonar during the NATO exercise off southern Spain between 24–26 January. Furthermore, there is no current evidence to show that Royal Naval sonar has ever been responsible for whale strandings.

Royal Navy: Sonar

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any evidence that use of sonar during naval exercises poses a threat to whales.

Lord Drayson: We acknowledge that underwater sound has the potential to cause problems for the marine environment. For this reason, the Royal Navy uses sonar in an environmentally responsible way. Military sonar testing and operation is one of the most regulated uses of sound in the ocean.
	There is no evidence to show, nor is there reason to believe, that Royal Navy sonar has ever caused a stranding of whales.

Royal Navy: Sonar

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What guidance they have issued to the Armed Forces regarding the risks to animal life associated with the use of sonar.

Lord Drayson: Comprehensive instructions are issued to all our ships' commanding officers for the operational use of sonar in the marine environment. We have adopted a precautionary principle to mitigate effects on the marine environment and are committed to taking all reasonable and practical measures to protect the environment. This guidance employs the key principles of "plan, look, listen, and act", and reflects the best scientific advice available.

Royal Navy: Sonar

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether environmental impact assessments have been conducted to measure the effects of naval military exercises; and, if so, what were the results.

Lord Drayson: Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are conducted as a routine element of any UK-led naval exercise. They cover the marine habitat of the operating area and the species likely to be encountered. EIAs are used to better tailor the activity and ensure that any possible damaging effects are identified during the planning stage of the exercise, and mitigated to reduce their impact to an absolute minimum.
	Equipment used in UK-led naval exercises is operated in compliance with current UK environmental legislation, as well as the international conventions signed by the UK.

Royal Navy: Sonar

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What strategies the Royal Navy are employing to minimise the damage caused to wildlife by military exercises; and whether they include (a) avoiding marine mammal habitats; (b) avoiding breeding grounds; and (c) listening with passive sonar to ensure that animals are not at risk before switching to active sonar.

Lord Drayson: For UK-led Royal Navy military exercises, operating procedures are designed to reduce the potential for an adverse environmental impact to a minimum. These include the use, wherever possible, of passive sonar to detect and monitor marine mammals prior to active sonar operations.
	We have a fully developed environmental policy and equipment is operated in compliance with current UK environmental legislation, as well as the international conventions signed by the UK. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are undertaken for a wide range of our activities in the marine environment, including sonar. Such EIAs cover the marine habitat of the operating area concerned and the species likely to be encountered.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Serious Organised Crime Agency will take on (a) all the staff of; (b) all the resources of; and (c) all the functions of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the services currently carried out by the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit continue.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: SOCA's approach to reducing the harm done to the UK by serious organised crime differs from that of the precursor agencies: NCS (National Crime Squad), NHTCU (National Hi-Tech Crime Unit), NCIS (National Criminal Intelligence Service), parts of HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) and INDIS (Immigration and Nationality Directorate Intelligence Service). All staff of the precursor agencies who are transferring to SOCA have been through a preliminary exercise to map them into posts in SOCA. The resources made available to SOCA will be greater than the sum total of the resources available to the precursor agencies. The majority of the facilities of NHTCU will fall to the e-crime team in the intervention directorate of SOCA. The NHTCU's previous role in relation to the use of the internet for paedophilia will pass to the new Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. There are a few national functions that NHTCU historically held which may pass to the e-crime team. Responsibility for these functions is being discussed between ACPO, NHTCU, SOCA and the Home Office.

Sport: Anti-doping

Lord Pendry: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 8 March (WA 144), which laboratories in the United Kingdom are accredited to carry out UK Sport's anti-doping responsibilities.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The UK has two laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency to undertake analysis of doping samples: King's College, London and the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory.